Alleppey gets coadjutor bishop

The Latin diocese of Alleppey, erected in 1952, covers Alleppey district and parts of Ernakulam district.

Pope Francis has appointed Fr. James Raphael Anaparambil as the coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Alleppey in Kerala on Dec 7.

Bishop-elect Anaparambil was born in Chellanam in Alleppey diocese on March 7, 1962. He was ordained priest for the same diocese on Dec 17, 1986.

Anaparambil holds a Masters in Judaism from the Pontifical Gregorian University and a Doctorate in Biblical Theology from the Pontifical Urbanian University in Rome.

He served as chaplain in St. Thomas Parish in Thumply from1986 to1987. From 1989 to1993, he was Prefect and Procurator of Sacred Heart Minor Seminary, Maithara, Alleppey.

He was Diocesan Director of Vocations Centre from1989 to1993. He taught Biblical Theology and Hebrew at the St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Carmelgiri, from 1998 to 2013, where he served as Rector from 2009 to 2012.

He was the Vicar General for Clergy, Religious and Seminarians of Alleppey diocese from 2014 to 2016. He was also member of the College of Consultors of the Diocese of Alleppey.

At present, he is in charge of the revision of the Malayalam translation of the Bible at Pastoral Orientation Centre, Ernakulam.

The Latin diocese of Alleppey, erected in 1952, covers Alleppey district and parts of Ernakulam district.